Chapter 10
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 10 – A Cup of Coffee
—–CROW—–
Life throws all sorts of things your way.
Happy things, joyful things.
Sad things, heartbreaking things.
“…Lee Si-woo?”
“…”
“Did you die sitting down?”
And incredibly absurd things, like right now.
Well, it happens.
You can be mistaken for a couple.
I could understand that much.
As I said before, if I were in their shoes, I might have made the same mistake.
‘…This is a bit much.’
But this was too much.
Not only were we mistaken for a couple, but we were given a single cup with a cute, heart-shaped couple’s straw.
“Hello? Lee Si-woo?”
“…”
And with Han Seo-ah, no less.
My childhood friend, whose face I was tired of seeing.
This had to be some elaborate prank orchestrated by someone.
“Hey, Lee Si-woo!”
“…Huh?”
It was Han Seo-ah’s shout that snapped me out of my daze.
“I know you’re flustered, but you can’t just ignore me.”
“Sorry. I was really surprised.”
“You weren’t the only one. I was surprised too.”
“…Really?”
“Of course! Do you think I want to share a cup with you?”
[I can share a cup of coffee with Si-woo.]
[Is this a dream? If it is, I don’t want to wake up.]
“…”
Seeing her chaotic inner thoughts made my barely-awakened mind want to shut down again.
Wouldn’t a normal person be at least a little uncomfortable?
What kind of person was Lee Si-woo to Han Seo-ah that she’d react like this?
Unaware of my frozen expression, Han Seo-ah continued.
“So, what are we going to do?”
“What do you mean…”
“The coffee. We can’t just not drink it after ordering.”
[If I say this, Si-woo will probably drink it because it would be a waste.]
Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts now assumed I would drink it.
“…Well…”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to drink it all by yourself?”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t you think this is a bit much?”
I still hadn’t made up my mind.
It was true that it would be a waste of coffee, as Han Seo-ah said, but it felt like something that went beyond the level of friendship.
Han Seo-ah spoke in a grumpy voice, as if dissatisfied with my answer.
“So, you want me to drink all of this by myself?”
“Yeah. Is it hard?”
“Of course, it’s hard! Do you think I’m a pig?”
“You are a pi…”
“Lee Si-woo. What did you say?”
“…Sorry.”
Was it just my imagination that I felt a murderous intent that threatened my life for a moment?
I almost had a heart attack.
She called me “stupid Si-woo” all the time, but why was she so sensitive about the word “pig”?
Of course, I didn’t have the courage to say it out loud, so I just grumbled inwardly.
“…Anyway, that’s what I think.”
“You don’t want to share?”
“Yeah, you wouldn’t want to share a cup with me either.”
“…Of course not. Who would want to share a cup with you?”
[I don’t mind sharing a cup with Si-woo.]
[I’m giving you so many hints. You stupid idiot.]
“…Cough!”
I couldn’t tell her to stop thinking such embarrassing things just because I could see them.
Wasn’t it a talent to be able to think such embarrassing thoughts so casually?
As I coughed because of my racing heart, Han Seo-ah spoke in a slightly subdued voice.
“…What? Do you really have a cold? You were coughing yesterday too.”
“Something’s just stuck in my thro… Cough!”
“Something’s stuck in your throat? Then, do you want some of this?”
“…What is it?”
“This? A refreshing Americano, fresh from the barista.”
“…”
Han Seo-ah was grinning, her subdued voice from earlier completely gone.
She was definitely a psychopath.
How could she smile like that when I was coughing because something was stuck in my throat?
Of course, nothing was actually stuck.
“You said your throat hurts. Don’t you want some?”
“…Are you… Are you going to drink it?”
“Me? Of course, I’ll drink it! Si-woo bought it for his noona.”
“You said you didn’t want to share with me earlier.”
“…That’s true, but it would be a waste to leave it.”
“What if I drink it all?”
“Yeah, I know it takes you about two hours to finish a cup of coffee.”
That was true.
I still couldn’t handle the bitterness of coffee; I was just a child.
“I can drink it if I want to.”
“Oh really? Our Si-woo can?”
“…Wow, that tone of voice is really annoying.”
“Really? I didn’t mean to.”
[Si-woo is cute even when he’s annoyed. That’s why I tease him sometimes.]
Ah, I see.
You didn’t mean to.
As I marveled at Han Seo-ah’s audacity, I noticed the coffee cup that had somehow moved in front of me.
“…You’re really going to share?”
“I told you, it would be a waste to leave it.”
“It’s my money, not yours. Why would it be a waste for you?”
“It’s the first coffee Si-woo has bought me in ages. I should treat it like my own money.”
[It’s the same money anyway once Si-woo and I get married.]
“…”
…I think I just saw something incredible.
She was already planning that far ahead?
Han Seo-ah, still seemingly unable to read my expression, offered me the coffee.
“Here. You drink first.”
“…Can you not act like you’re doing me a favor? I bought it with my own money.”
“Come on, you’re complaining again. We’re not even using the same straw.”
“…That’s true.”
I kept grumbling, but…
We were using different straws.
The coffee just came from the same cup.
And that bothered me quite a bit.
So, it wasn’t impossible if I wanted to.
‘Sip’
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I took a sip.
“You’re drinking it just fine. Why were you complaining so much earlier?”
“This sip contained a lot of contemplat…”
“Just give it to me. I want to drink too.”
Since I’d already taken a sip, I had no excuse to refuse.
The coffee cup in my hand quickly moved to Han Seo-ah’s.
“It must be delicious.”
“Just be careful with the straw. I used the red one.”
“…Do you think I’m stupid enough to mix them up? Of course, I know.”
[How did he know? I was going to pretend I didn’t know and use the straw he used.]
Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts kept me on my toes.
I was seriously worried I might get jumped later.
‘Sip’
“Ah, so sweet.”
“…Are you a 30-year-old man who just chugged down some soup?”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s polite to express your enjoyment when you eat something delicious.”
This time, no sentences appeared, proving that she wasn’t lying.
Hmm, is that so?
It was delicious, but not ‘that’ delicious.
Feeling a strange suspicion, I picked up the coffee cup Han Seo-ah had put down.
‘Sip’
Hmm.
It was definitely tastier than most cafes.
As I savored the coffee, I heard grumbling beside me.
“What? You were saying you weren’t going to drink it earlier.”
“…It’s better than I thought.”
“Are you going to drink it all by yourself? Put it down, I want some too.”
“Put it down?”
I was genuinely puzzled.
How was she going to drink it if I just put the cup down?
And my question was quickly answered.
“The barista gave us two straws for a reason.”
“…You want to drink it at the same time?”
“You said you wanted some. And I want some too, so this is the only way.”
[Actually, I want to do this with Si-woo more than I want to drink the coffee.] Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts, still unrestrained.
Was this right?
This seemed like something only couples would do.
But Han Seo-ah, oblivious to my concerns, started urging me.
“Hurry up, Lee Si-woo. I want to drink.”
“Are you really going to do this?”
“What else can we do? Are you going to give up?”
“…Should I put it down?”
“See? You can’t give up either.”
Of course not.
I could give up before drinking, but not after.
“Okay, ready.”
“We’re really doing this?”
“Stop complaining. We drink on the count of three, okay?”
“…One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
We said the last word simultaneously.
And we both put the straws in our mouths at the same time.
Thinking back, it was a childish act.
Fighting over who gets to drink more coffee and then compromising to share.
And even counting to three like kindergarteners to make it fair.
Possibly the most childish act in the world.
An act I would normally cringe at.
But at that moment, I couldn’t think of anything else.
Perhaps I knew.
What would happen if two people shared a single cup with two straws.
No, I couldn’t ‘not’ know.
I wasn’t an idiot.
But, even so.
Even though I knew, even though I knew her intentions because of her inner thoughts, I didn’t refuse Han Seo-ah’s suggestion.
I didn’t know why.
Perhaps the hypothesis I had yesterday was true.
That I liked Han Seo-ah.
That I’d known her for so long that familiarity had overtaken affection.
Perhaps it was true.
Anyway, the only thing I was sure of was that…
Neither Han Seo-ah nor I could hold it for more than five seconds before we both pulled away.
Looking into each other’s eyes at such close proximity was more embarrassing than we thought.
Should I say it was a good thing we weren’t late for class because of this?
It was a confusing morning, one of those days that came every now and then.
—–CROW—–
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